Friday, December 4, 2009
Gassy
I think our youngests a bit gassy...he's struggling about 1/2 hour after feeds - not hungry as he won't take more. He's satisfied. But he screaks out screams & arches his back...any advice from other mammas that have endured this? I've tried gripe water 3 times in his lifetime...sometimes I have to let him go as he's asleep & just screams, but I would love to know other wisdom!
A new fan!
Today I became a fan of a radio station I don't listen to. CJ92. My brother nominated my youngest sister for the Secret Wish Campaign & she won for today! (he did all this from Austrailia ...what a guy!) It's been a tough year - and she has been so strong, positive & hopeful despite all the challenges she's battled & is still battling. I cannot think of a more deserving person than her to receive this very generous prize!
My next younger sister taped it & our oldest son & I listened to it. I sat here & bawled as I listened to it - my oldest is now learning there are things called tears of joy & blessing! If you are a "friend" on facebook, take a listen to the call on my videos (my other sister taped it & put it on). It'll bring you to tears!
And from the bottom of my heart (and I'm certain my entire family's)...thank you CJ92!
My next younger sister taped it & our oldest son & I listened to it. I sat here & bawled as I listened to it - my oldest is now learning there are things called tears of joy & blessing! If you are a "friend" on facebook, take a listen to the call on my videos (my other sister taped it & put it on). It'll bring you to tears!
And from the bottom of my heart (and I'm certain my entire family's)...thank you CJ92!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Baby Summary Week 4 & 5:
Baby:
-has grown! Week 4 he gained just shy of a pound! We didn't weigh him this week yet as yesterday was my husband's birthday, but I am excited to see where he's at! I guess to me the most exciting is because I had challenges with my milk last time - so this is a living proof of a miracle for me!!
- baby is gassy - I just read today in babywise that this is one thing you should mention to your doctor. Baby sleeps well & then wakes up some naps screaming - but not fully awake - a high pitched cry. I have eaten no garlic or onions for weeks now & so I'm not certain what more I can do...I look forward to our 6 week check up next week. Maybe this is also why he makes it seldom for good stretches at night. He eats every 3 hours in the day time - full feeds - so I'm hoping he does longer stretches in the next few weeks! Last night he did 6 hours between feeds & 5 of those were sleeping!!! WOOHOO!
-baby does more structured awake time now. I need to go look through our firsts books to see how I organized those times as I like how the oldests days are now (& they are somewhat a variation of those earlier times). We do full awake times at one station - did it with our first & his attention span is wonderful!
Toddler:
-again is just amazing! People have been SO generous with gifts for him as well as baby, so it has been a HUGE help for him to entertain himself with a new item every so often. I try to keep the new things a few days apart so he doesn't learn to need this!
-he's doing well at being gentle! He loves to love on his brother & play - he doesn't understand his strength. So, we gently (because we have to demonstrate it first right) remind him & reteach him. It's so nice to see how excited he is about his brother!! There is a book for anyone having a second I HIGHLY recommend in setting the older's expectations of what a baby can & can't do when it comes home: Big brother. This book we read every day for weeks before baby came to discuss that baby will take a while before it can play with you. I believe this (along with prayer) has made the transition so smooth for us!
-I see my expectations on him need to be a bit more laid back - he just is adjusting to pappa being back at work and therefore wants/needs mamma to be more available.
Home:
-due to the last note mentioned above, I tend to do my chores right before our toddler's nap is over, or if he is just in a cozy mood & wants to stay in his crib I fly through the vaccuming or washing floors then. The bathrooms I do one during their nap (only takes 10 min really) and the other when pappa is home. Dusting is my most difficult chore right now, but it gets done - thankfully! When the house is in order, I can function better. And everyone needs a functioning mamma!
Focus:
-During these two weeks I wrote out our 4 priorities we are working on to keep me steady in tough moments:
1. Baby sleeps in his crib
2. We do only full feeds
3. Baby needs to learn to self soothe
4. Baby working towards longer nighttime stretches of sleep
Learning:
-we all need grace sometimes. Not every day will be perfect! (but seriously, I have been VERY blessed as the days have gone exceptionally well!) And on those days, extend grace. And receive grace.
-has grown! Week 4 he gained just shy of a pound! We didn't weigh him this week yet as yesterday was my husband's birthday, but I am excited to see where he's at! I guess to me the most exciting is because I had challenges with my milk last time - so this is a living proof of a miracle for me!!
- baby is gassy - I just read today in babywise that this is one thing you should mention to your doctor. Baby sleeps well & then wakes up some naps screaming - but not fully awake - a high pitched cry. I have eaten no garlic or onions for weeks now & so I'm not certain what more I can do...I look forward to our 6 week check up next week. Maybe this is also why he makes it seldom for good stretches at night. He eats every 3 hours in the day time - full feeds - so I'm hoping he does longer stretches in the next few weeks! Last night he did 6 hours between feeds & 5 of those were sleeping!!! WOOHOO!
-baby does more structured awake time now. I need to go look through our firsts books to see how I organized those times as I like how the oldests days are now (& they are somewhat a variation of those earlier times). We do full awake times at one station - did it with our first & his attention span is wonderful!
Toddler:
-again is just amazing! People have been SO generous with gifts for him as well as baby, so it has been a HUGE help for him to entertain himself with a new item every so often. I try to keep the new things a few days apart so he doesn't learn to need this!
-he's doing well at being gentle! He loves to love on his brother & play - he doesn't understand his strength. So, we gently (because we have to demonstrate it first right) remind him & reteach him. It's so nice to see how excited he is about his brother!! There is a book for anyone having a second I HIGHLY recommend in setting the older's expectations of what a baby can & can't do when it comes home: Big brother. This book we read every day for weeks before baby came to discuss that baby will take a while before it can play with you. I believe this (along with prayer) has made the transition so smooth for us!
-I see my expectations on him need to be a bit more laid back - he just is adjusting to pappa being back at work and therefore wants/needs mamma to be more available.
Home:
-due to the last note mentioned above, I tend to do my chores right before our toddler's nap is over, or if he is just in a cozy mood & wants to stay in his crib I fly through the vaccuming or washing floors then. The bathrooms I do one during their nap (only takes 10 min really) and the other when pappa is home. Dusting is my most difficult chore right now, but it gets done - thankfully! When the house is in order, I can function better. And everyone needs a functioning mamma!
Focus:
-During these two weeks I wrote out our 4 priorities we are working on to keep me steady in tough moments:
1. Baby sleeps in his crib
2. We do only full feeds
3. Baby needs to learn to self soothe
4. Baby working towards longer nighttime stretches of sleep
Learning:
-we all need grace sometimes. Not every day will be perfect! (but seriously, I have been VERY blessed as the days have gone exceptionally well!) And on those days, extend grace. And receive grace.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy birthday to the world's most amazing husband! I am so thankful to walk this journey we call life as your lifemate! I love you more than words can express & am thankful for our life! You inspire me, challenge me & make me laugh! I have grown in my faith & life as a result of knowing you! May this year be a year filled with God's richest blessing! I look forward to watching you grow & experience all God has for you!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
A completely amazing day/evening/night!
Yesterday we started our day with Advent celebrations. I love the season of advent & find that in many homes in North America, we don't celebrate advent like overseas. So it has been something that we have chosen to focus on as a family. We decided to do our Jesse Tree next year when our oldests a bit older...but we are still talking about anticipating Jesus & using many symbols to remind us of this time! (although I did choose to decorate with red rather than purple ... at least for this season!)
In the evening, we all loaded into our car & took a Christmas lights tour. We ended up going to Spruce Meadows & my husband & son walked among the lighted trees - so beautiful! We even went carolling to grandma's house!
Our little one hit a milestone yesterday: he turned one month. I cannot believe how fast it's gone! And how well it's gone - we are VERY grateful to the Lord!! He blessed me last night with his first 6.5 hour stretch between feeds - I got a full 5.5 hours of sleep in a row! (that's been almost my total for the day/night this past month). I feel just like a toddler - now expecting this is the new norm....we'll just have to wait & see!
In the evening, we all loaded into our car & took a Christmas lights tour. We ended up going to Spruce Meadows & my husband & son walked among the lighted trees - so beautiful! We even went carolling to grandma's house!
Our little one hit a milestone yesterday: he turned one month. I cannot believe how fast it's gone! And how well it's gone - we are VERY grateful to the Lord!! He blessed me last night with his first 6.5 hour stretch between feeds - I got a full 5.5 hours of sleep in a row! (that's been almost my total for the day/night this past month). I feel just like a toddler - now expecting this is the new norm....we'll just have to wait & see!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
And now it hits
I am normally completely crazy for Christmas! Those who know me well, know that our home starts sounding like Christmas, smelling like Christmas & feeling like that time of year in September without fail & without intentionally planning it...it just takes over me!
This year, it's been a bit different. Oh, we are & have been done our shopping for months now, (and it is SUCH a blessing in this season of life!), but I haven't gotten that "feeling". Now, I know Christmas is by far MUCH more than a feeling, but I love that feeling nonetheless.
Then arrives Wednesday. Our oldest son & I went into our crawl space & pulled out the advent decorations. It was SO FUN seeing it through his eyes - each year it's more exciting for him! And last night, we pulled out our advent gifts - and the advent pakke calendar. And this morning, the table is decked out in our Christmas service & waffles are freshly made...oh, it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!!!!
This year, it's been a bit different. Oh, we are & have been done our shopping for months now, (and it is SUCH a blessing in this season of life!), but I haven't gotten that "feeling". Now, I know Christmas is by far MUCH more than a feeling, but I love that feeling nonetheless.
Then arrives Wednesday. Our oldest son & I went into our crawl space & pulled out the advent decorations. It was SO FUN seeing it through his eyes - each year it's more exciting for him! And last night, we pulled out our advent gifts - and the advent pakke calendar. And this morning, the table is decked out in our Christmas service & waffles are freshly made...oh, it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!!!!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Ability to nap...
I was asked by a friend recently how it is possible to have a nap in the afternoon with two under two. We planned our routine around our oldest's nap in order to hopefully achieve this! Now, the nap has been anywhere from 1/2 hour to 1.5 hours - but a nap is a nap!
Here's our day:
0615 - wake baby & feed
0645 - get ready myself
0700 - go to oldest & give milk & do morning routine
0730 - oldest does crib/room time
0800 - breakfast
0900 - nurse youngest & diaper change & his awake time
1000 - put youngest down, oldest for room time
1100 - mamma & son playtime (oldest)
1130 - lunch
1200 - nurse youngest, diaper change, his awake time
1300 - oldest down for nap (til 1600) He doesn't always nap the full 3 hours, but he is amazing to rest.
1315 - put down youngest - as you can see today it's taking a lot longer!
-when I can, here's when I nap
I try to wake up 1430 to get dinner going & any short chores I can accomplish.
1500 - nurse youngest, diaper change & put down for nap
1600 - milk for oldest & playtime with mamma
1700 - pappa home (thank You Lord!) and dinner time
1800 - nurse youngest, big boys play together & do nighttime routine
1900 - devotions for oldest, I head for nap after this
1930 - lights out oldest
2030 - nurse youngest - then I hit the hay for the night - excluding nighttime feedings.
That's our day in a nutshell. Today was a bit out of the ordinary as we had our oldests second vaccination; then headed to grandma & grandpa's for a nice visit. But nursing times stay consistent & once we walk in our door, our routine is back on.
We find freedom in a routine & confidence for our littles! Now, we do diviate about 15 minutes often either end for feeds.
Hope this helps!
Here's our day:
0615 - wake baby & feed
0645 - get ready myself
0700 - go to oldest & give milk & do morning routine
0730 - oldest does crib/room time
0800 - breakfast
0900 - nurse youngest & diaper change & his awake time
1000 - put youngest down, oldest for room time
1100 - mamma & son playtime (oldest)
1130 - lunch
1200 - nurse youngest, diaper change, his awake time
1300 - oldest down for nap (til 1600) He doesn't always nap the full 3 hours, but he is amazing to rest.
1315 - put down youngest - as you can see today it's taking a lot longer!
-when I can, here's when I nap
I try to wake up 1430 to get dinner going & any short chores I can accomplish.
1500 - nurse youngest, diaper change & put down for nap
1600 - milk for oldest & playtime with mamma
1700 - pappa home (thank You Lord!) and dinner time
1800 - nurse youngest, big boys play together & do nighttime routine
1900 - devotions for oldest, I head for nap after this
1930 - lights out oldest
2030 - nurse youngest - then I hit the hay for the night - excluding nighttime feedings.
That's our day in a nutshell. Today was a bit out of the ordinary as we had our oldests second vaccination; then headed to grandma & grandpa's for a nice visit. But nursing times stay consistent & once we walk in our door, our routine is back on.
We find freedom in a routine & confidence for our littles! Now, we do diviate about 15 minutes often either end for feeds.
Hope this helps!
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